Pass Mountain Trail

 Only half of this trail is black diamond. The west side has been sanitized. The trail from the south west corner to the north west corner (the large over look) is now a green or at most a green blue trail. nearly every rock has been removed or was rerouted around them. It is also swarming with giant hiking groups that don't want to let you pass them. If you are looking for a hard ride try going counter clockwise and do it as an out and back.

 I am a new beginner to mountain biking and found that the East side of this trail was very difficult. In fact I mostly hiked my bike up to the top. But the view at the top was worth it and trail was great on the way down. I don't know if I would go as far as saying all rocks have been removed but I didn't have to hike my bike! which I was happy for

 Hawes has many better black diamonds with less rocky sections and less hikers. I went early to avoid hikers, but had to pass dozens of hikers along the whole trail. Rocky sections are a great challenges, but too many rocky sections is hard on the tires and I wound off with a flat from pinching off off a section of tire, letting air out. Also, this trail is mostly either easy or difficult, rocky, uphill black diamond.

 This was the hardest , scariest trail I've encountered so far... can't wait to do it again

 In my opinion the last 1/4 of the loop running clockwise is too rocky (when it really starts going downhill). This is coming from someone who is comfortable going downhill. It's too rocky in the sense that this is all it is. A rock garden here and there would be a different story.

I would just ride it to the big lookout point and turn back around. Doing it that way makes this trail green/blue (a green that requires fitness and some bike handling skills above being a noob).

 Pass Mountain Trail is legit. I started from the Boulder Canyon Trailhead and road the connector over to Pass Mountain. This starts you right at the Northwest corner of the Pass Mountain Loop.

This north section of the trail has a decent amount of climbing. Nothing too steep and some corners. Keep spinning and balance and you and ride upalmost everything. About halfway through the north face of the loop you will start to get some exposure with some amazing views. Gaze in Boulder Canyon and the Four Peaks! The technical features start to increase at this point. There are several rock gardens you can try to navigate through. Techy up and steady flat gradient up will take turns as you climb up.

Once you reach the peak buckle up and great ready for some great downhill. There is some exposure in your right. The Downhill starts with a feature called “The Wall”. Try it if you got the stones! If not, simply walk down it. You’ll get to two switchbacks which are rideable. After the switchback the trail turns into pure all-Mountain downhill fun! Rock garden and a few drops are a plenty. Line choosing will make this a rear downhill. Stay loose on your bike and get your butt behind and shred!!

Once you get to the south east corner it’s undulating techy sections. You’ll ride through this type of stuff until you get to the Wind Cave parking lot. This is where most people will start, and if you do congrats! You’re done. If you started up at Boulder Canyon Trailhead, the west side is a long, steady green climb. Relax and spin and watch out for hikers and horses! This section of the trail system is used by them. Give them a wave and a smile and most will let you go by! Once you get back to the north east corner enjoy the downhill on the connector all the way back to the Boulder Canyon Trailhead!